Left to die at side of road: Businessman bled to death after being ‘stabbed by carjackers’

A businessman bled to death on the road in front of his helpless friend after being stabbed by carjackers who stole his Mercedes, a court heard today.

Harjinder Singh Bhurji tried to stop the robbers taking his £33,000 SLK Coupe but was knifed in the heart, jurors were told.

His friend, Kajal Bhardwa, was dragged out of the passenger seat as the attackers allegedly threatened to slit her throat.

The carjackers then drove away with their mobiles, leaving her unable to call for help as the 32-year-old died on the roadside.

Prosecutor Sally O’Neill said: ‘He made the mistake of protesting against his car being taken.’

The pair were chatting in his parked car when they were confronted in the early hours of September 13, 2011, jurors heard.

One of the robbers allegedly pulled Ms Bhardwa out of the car and demanded the keys.

Garage owner Mr Bhurji denied he had them, hurling them behind the driver’s seat. By the time he went to retrieve them to hand them over, he had been stabbed through the heart, the Old Bailey was told.

The attackers sped off but the car, which had a tracking device fitted, was abandoned 5km (three miles) away in Chingford, Essex.